Meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m. by President Jan Victorson.

Present: Jan Victorson, Tom McCarrier, Dan Kurtz, Richard Meeker, Grace Merrill, Bill Tefft, Don Hunjadi, Pete Brierton, and Cilvia Lewis.

Not present: Mary Jean Kisting, Steve Teale, Mary Schilder, Brian LaCroix, Mark Madigan, Pam Myhre, Brenda Hellman-Bulle, and Larry TeStroete.

Review of October 20, 1996 BOD’s Minutes. Motion by Bill and seconded by Pete to accept and approve October’s minutes as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

President’s Action Items:
Jan reported on the “Report of Fire Fighter or EMT Injury” forms. Requesting everyone to look at and review the form and return to: Jeanette Tierney, Face Director, 1414 E. Washington Ave. Rm 167, Madison, WI 53703. Any question call (608)266-7298.
Grace asked for a copy of the form/questions for review. Jan will be sending copies to all the board members.

Jan will keep board members posted on the Fire Service Legislative Group.

Vice President’s Action Items: None

Secretary’s Action Items: None

Executive Manager’s Action Items:
Don gave update on new sport shirts and sweatshirts. Showed example of what the embroidered work will look like but needs suggestions or ideas on thread colors.

Don received information from David Bloom, Midwest Fire Rescue and EMS Expo (trade show). Mr. Bloom was requesting us to underwrite/participate in this expo. Don requested action item on this topic. Motion by Rich and seconded by Grace to decline on the offer to participate in this expo. Motion carried unanimously.

Association Secretary’s Action Items:
1,104 total registrations, to date, for the WEMSA conference at end of month.

Committee Action Items:
Conference: Rich reported everything moving along nicely.
First Responder: none
Legislative and Membership/PR: Don needs 2 volunteers to man sales items and memberships booth at conference.
Publication: Don reported magazine publication out with new changes made. Give any comments/feedback to Don.

Old Business:
1997 Operating Budget: Don presented Income Statement and General Expenses Reports. Motion by Dan and seconded by Rich to approve Budget as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Don mentioned possible purchasing/upgrading computer and printer in 1997, but will continue checking prices.

BOD’s Election Results: Rich reported on the BOD’s Election. Results were as follows: Bannen-104, Becker-109, Donner-83, Bulle-110, Hunjadi-146, Menzel-106, Schilder-138, and Weir-66. Winners are: Becker, Bulle, Hunjadi , Menzel and Schilder. Motion by Bill and seconded by Tom to accept the results of the BOD’s Election as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Jan will notify all the participated of the results.
Bill suggested, for future election, to stamp date received on all the incoming ballots.

1997 Awards: No one submitted nominees for the EMT of the year award. Received 7 nominations for the service of the year award. Four judges were used to score the 1997 Awards. They are as follows: Dan Williams - Wisconsin EMS Advisory Board; Jon Morgan - Chief-EMS Section/DHFS; Bob Holdsworth and Chip Daris - Holdsworth and Associated, CT; Paul Howard - Colorado EMS Association. The judges scorings placed “Wisconsin Dells”, for the “Service of the Year Award”. Not to be disclosed until the Friday night banquet at the conference. Motion by Pete and seconded by Dan to accept the results, and award Wisconsin Dells the service of the year award. Motion carried unanimously.
Jan announced that Greg Huber will be receiving the president’s award on Friday evening at the conference.
Discussion on keeping the awards in general; Dan suggested nominations should be given also by hospitals, administrators and communities. Don will put on agenda for annual meeting. Jan inquired on how to ask question at annual meeting. Suggestion: “Ask for members feedback and opinion on awards in general”.

Organization History for BOD Handbook & Handbook Status: Nothing additional done. Larry and Tom will be put on the agenda for the April’s BOD’s meeting.

Agenda for January Annual Meeting (at the conference): Don and Jan will make agenda for the annual meeting. Topic items to date are as follows: Introduction, Finance Report, Election Report, Mission Statement/History, Awards suggestions, Comments from members. Their will be voting by members at this annual meeting, but on agenda items only.

Preview of Financial Presentation (at conference): Charts approved to be shown at annual meeting are as follows: Gross Income, General Expenses and Membership Total. (Financial Growth chart, not to be shown). Reminding members that we are a non-profit organization which is very solvent and very stable. Don suggested answers for the “What If” questions. This organization provides a low dues fee, low conference fees, a bi-monthly magazine publication, lobbyist. Rich suggested to have 8 to 10 reasons for this organization’s future profits and existing financial numbers. Outlining purpose for financial investment and financial reserves for the membership include the following: Maintaining high quality conferences; Maintain low membership rates; Increase membership services, such as regional workshops, Town Hall meetings, educational opportunities; Planning for future need for a lobbyist; Planning for statewide recruitment and retention programs for emergency service volunteers.

Long-Term Financial Plan and Investment: Don asked Attorney Barry Szmanski two questions. First, “Can we show a profit if we are a non-profit organization?”, reply, “YES” (but no dividends givings can be disbursed). Secondly, “Can we invest?”, reply, “YES”(more liable to your members if you do not invest). Inform members what the money is for, example, “Contingency Account” for FUTURE GROWTH, FUTURE PROJECTS, plus FINANCIAL STABILITY AND INDEPENDENCE.
FINANCIAL PLAN: Invest $30,000 now. plus take 50%, from now on, of each years net income and invest annually. Put into Investments with Broker for at least 3 years.
Dan motioned and Rich seconded to designate Ken Rieley, from Kemper Securities, as the Financial Planner. Motion carried unanimously.
Pete motioned and Dan seconded to invest $30,000 with the designated Financial Planner, for future growth, future projects and financial stability and independence. With final decision to be made by Executive Committee after confirming with Financial Planner. Motion carried unanimously. Roll call vote by Jan Victorson. Pete, Grace, Bill, Tom, Dan, Rich, and Jan. ALL Aye’s, NONE opposed.

Discussion: In future years, starting with 1996 profit. A plan to take 50% of Associations profits and apply our Associations Investment Funds.

A MOTION AND RESOLUTION: Annually with approval by the board beginning with 1996, to take 50% of Association profit to apply into Association Investment Funds to be reviewed and approved annually by the BOD’s. Roll call vote by Jan Victorson. Pete, Grace, Bill, Tom, Dan, Rich, and Jan. ALL Aye’s, NONE opposed.

Plan for Meeting Facilitator: Rich and Don met with Calvin Beyer. They proposed free advertising and a cash amount of $300-$400 to be put towards his facilitation services with the BOD’s. The BOD’s needs to pick a project which it feels needs facilitating. Dan suggested the Bylaws to be worked on first. Future plans for Mr. Beyer and BOD’s: Noon, Saturday, April 12, 1997 - Start with BOD’s qualifications and then bylaws. REMINDER: New board positions start April 1, 1997, AND Sunday, April 13, 1997, 10:00 a.m. - next BOD’s Meeting.

EMS Recruitment Project: Jan continued communications with other organizations but no consensus at this time. Will be updated at future meetings. Tom commented on the retention and recruitment of members being very important, including EMT’s and First Responders.

Bylaws Revisions: Motion by Rich and seconded by Grace to move the Bylaws revisions agenda item to the end of the meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

Strategic Plan: All Bylaws revisions and future planning will be done in order to reflect the Strategic Plan.

Executive Managers Contract: Don’s job evaluation/review should be completed before his contract is up in April. Don would like a three or four year Executive Manager’s Contract. This longer contract would be in the best interest of the board, as well as Don. Jan and Dan will work together on a formal review for Don during conference time. (ex: A three year contract with salary remaining the same as proposed per budget)

New Business:
Position on use of FAP to fund Regionalization: Board’s position/resolution or statement on this issue. Strongly oppose the use of the FAP (funding assistance programs which should not be used for the offset of budgets). Do we support regionalization? (another funding source) We support regionalization but the FAP funding is important in the way that it was originally intended. Motion by Rich and seconded by Pete that our EMS Association supports the continued evaluation of the regionalization concept. However, essential it is that the FAP funds stay at a local level. These funds were originally intended to enhance local services and are critical to local service operations and training. Motion carried unanimously.
Should we have a membership vote on FAP at annual meeting?
Motion by Tom and seconded by Dan to have members vote on FAP at annual meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

Position on EMS Board’s recommendation for DHFS to require advanced skills: (Requirement to be met by the state for a licensed EMT) Don remarked on the issue that the minimum requirement level should be the EMT-Basic. Motion by Dan and seconded by Pete that the Wisconsin EMS Association supports the requirement that every licensed service provider provide defibrillation, epinephrine, and advanced airway service at the service levels. However, the EMS Association also supports the local services and systems ability to provide that a service without requiring every EMT to be certified at the D, DA, Epi levels. As long as these skills are provided on a 24 hour basis. All individual EMT’s should be taught to provide the administration of these advanced skills through the basic curriculum and refresher courses. However, certification and authorization of individual EMT’s should be left to the local MD and service providers discretion. Motion carried with 5 aye’s, 1 abstain and 1 opposed.
Second motion by Tom and seconded by Dan to bring this to the annual meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

Attorney General: Rich announced that the Attorney General will Open and Welcome members to the conference on Friday morning.

Motion by Rich and seconded by Pete that the Board go into closed session. Motion carried unanimously.

4:50 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Closed Session.
5:00 - Resumed Open Session.
Motion by Dan and seconded by Tom to resume Open Session. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion by Dan and seconded by Pete to reclassify and clarify the role of Legal Counsel and Medical Director Advisor in accordance with the current bylaws. The Legal Counsel and Medical Director Advisor should act as standing members to the board for all business excluding voting rights, including closed sessions when appropriate. Motion carried unanimously.

Bylaw Revision: Changes by BOD’s and membership sections.
Add sections for: Medical Director Advisor, Association Secretary
Look over and review again at the April BOD’s meeting.

Motion by Dan and seconded by Rich to adjourn meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 5:15.

Respectfully submitted by Cilvia Lewis
EMS Association Secretary

Action Items to be Completed Next BOD’s Meeting in Steven’s Point:
Organization History for BOD’s Handbook. (Larry and Tom)
Bylaws Update. (Don)
Executive Manager’s Job Evaluation and Review. ( Jan)